Help During Crisis
When faced with a crisis or need, who do you turn to? Many of us rely on family and friends to help us in our time of need, but what about the families in your community without those supports in place? Many families today have no one to turn to in a crisis situation. Families experiencing homelessness, drug addiction, domestic violence, mental illness, medical problems, lack of funding, and tension in the home usually find it difficult to care for their children alone. This leaves their children vulnerable for abuse and/ or neglect as they struggle with their hardships and circumstances without support.
At ICM we strive to mobilize churches and Christians to fulfill the biblical call to care for vulnerable children and to support families in crisis. A possible solution for a family in crisis is found in our Family Care Ministry through either our Parenting Partner or Safe Families programs, preventatives to child welfare custody. Placed in loving Christians’ homes voluntarily, children are temporarily cared for by Christian families while the biological parent gets the help they need. The goal is always reunification.
Parenting Partners
Parenting Partners is a volunteer-based ministry with the primary objective to strengthen and equip families in their times of crisis and need.
- Families are DCFS licensed and monitored by ICM
- No children who are wards of the state through DCFS are served
- A stipend amount is given to Parenting Partners to offset cost for caring for children in care
- Volunteer based placements
- Biological parent(s) maintain full custody
Safe Families
Safe Families for Children is a national movement of compassion that gives hope to families in crisis. This network of volunteer host families help parents who need temporary care for their children as they work through unmanageable or critical circumstances.
- Biological parent(s) maintain full custody
- Volunteer based placements
- Safe Families go through online training and are monitored by ICM
- The average placement length is about 6 weeks, but can range from 48 hours to 6 months+
- Relationship between the local church, Safe Family, and biological parent is close
- Other volunteer roles create wrap-around support for the placing parent